By Prerna Sinha, maaofallblogs
“Go have a bath so we can do pooja.”
“Mom, I want Gulab jamuns!”
“I hope this year you have saved enough money, or you can keep doing dandasanas”
Deep core memories of the banter during the celebration of Raksha Bandhan in my household growing up. As kids, Rakhi was all about cashing out from the brothers. And the brothers competed on how many rakhis they had tied on their hands, with the one with the maximum rakhis winning.
Like every other fond tradition that I grew up with, I have been trying to trace back the science, history, and origin of it. Maybe we belonged to a generation who would follow and accept whatever our parents told us to; today’s generation seeks meaning before they embrace a practice. And perhaps that’s a good thing. Understanding the history and significance of our festivals not only helps us answer questions we once hesitated to ask, but also allows us to pass these traditions on with knowledge rather than obligation.
We all know that Raksha Bandhan is a festival where a sister ties a rakhi to her brother, representing the promise that the brother will protect her from any harm, but I believe every tradition in Indian Culture has a story, history, and a reason. Let’s explore.
The Legend And The History
If we trace the history of Raksha Bandhan, it dates back several centuries, with the first ever noted significance in the Mahabharata era. When Krishna suffered a cut while using his Sudarshan Chakra against King Shishupala, Draupadi tore a strip from her saree and tied his wound. Krishna is said to have vowed lifelong protection in return.
In 326 BCE, Alexander’s wife sent a rakhi to King Porus asking him to spare her husband’s life in battle. In 1527, Babur defeated and killed Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa. His widow, Rani Karnavati, unable to fight off Bahadur Shah alone, sent a rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun, who accepted it and marched with his troops toward Chittor.
There is also a legend connected to the Vamana Purana that holds that Goddess Lakshmi, disguised as a Brahmin woman, tied a rakhi on the demon king Bali’s wrist on Shravan Purnima, in exchange for Vishnu’s release from his vow to guard Bali’s kingdom. This is why Raksha Bandhan is also called Baleva in some regions.
The Science Behind the Thread and the Ritual
This is the part of our culture that I love exploring the most, as a lot of the traditions in our culture had some logic and science behind them, and understanding them makes it more interesting to relate to and follow.
Our wrist is anatomically dense with nerve pathways; it is believed that tying a thread at the wrist regulates the nerves passing through it and may help manage blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes, or paralysis. Also, the wrist has acupressure points whose stimulation through the thread aligns with the body’s energy flow as per Ayurveda.
While tying the rakhi, a mantra is traditionally recited, which invokes the protection once given to King Bali. This recitation is believed to infuse the thread with a Sattvik or pure quality. It’s a kind of energetic exchange,
The colours of the Kalava or Mauli also carry certain symbolism: Red is for strength and protection, yellow for wisdom and auspiciousness, and orange for purity and renewal.
The tilak represents respect and blessing. It is applied between the eyebrows, which is the most nerve- dense point on the face. Chandan or Kumkum has soothing properties, and rice pressing on it stimulates light acupressure, promoting calm thoughts and stillness of mind.
The timing of this festival is also very significant. Raksha Bandhan falls on Shravan Purnima, right in the middle of Varsha Ritu — the Ayurvedic monsoon season, when Vata dosha rises, and digestive fire (Agni) weakens due to damp, cooling weather, leaving the body more vulnerable to indigestion, low immunity, and joint discomfort. Ayurveda recommends countering this with light, warm, freshly cooked food and ghee, avoiding heavy, cold, or raw meals during this window.
What to Wear:
Raksha Bandhan calls for that particular Indian festive glow — colourful, comfortable, and rooted in tradition, without needing to be over-the-top.
- For women: A cotton or silk-blend saree in monsoon-friendly hues — think marigold yellow, coral, or a deep magenta — works beautifully. If you’re not a saree person, an Anarkali or a kurta set with statement jhumkas does the job just as elegantly. I personally love pairing my saree or kurta with minimal jewellery.
- For men: A simple kurta-pyjama in pastel or earthy tones is timeless.
- For kids: Let them wear something they can move freely in and, comfortable and breathable. Choose fabrics like cotton, linen, and cotton silks.
The point isn’t the outfit — it’s showing up with presence. But when you dress with a little intention, it does add to the sacredness of the ritual. Also, dressing up for a festival adds a festive cheer to it and automatically lifts up the mood.
Auspicious Timings:
To know the auspicious time for tying the rakhi, check your local panchang for city-wise timing. Avoid Bhadra Kaal and Rahu Kaal.
How to Celebrate Raksha Bandhan:
At its heart, Raksha Bandhan translates to “the bond of protection.” A sister ties a rakhi around her brother’s wrist, and in return, he promises to protect and support her but I know as many sisters who’ve shown up for their brothers through job losses, breakups, and 3 a.m. panic attacks as brothers who’ve shown up for their sisters, and sisters tying rakhi to each other because they do not have a brother as a sibling. Eventually, it’s just symbolic of a bond that siblings share.
Across India, different states celebrate this differently, so a few of the customs that I am listing below might sound different. Here is how it is celebrated in my family, as a Kayastha hailing from Uttar Pradesh.
- Keep rakhi, roli, rice grains, diya, sweets, flowers, and water in a thali for pooja.
- Pray to Lord Ganesha or your family deity before tying the rakhi.
- The sister applies tilak on her brother’s forehead, then ties the rakhi on his wrist and rotates the thali with the diya around him in a circular movement 5 times, like an aarti ritual.
- The brother is then fed sweets.
- He then touches the sister’s feet as a mark of respect, and then comes the most interesting part.
- The brother gives his sister a gift as a reminder of his love and affection for his sister.
It’s the little rituals — the teasing, the tying, the sweets — that Raksha Bandhan is really about. Not performing for the reels, but for rekindling the bond.
So this time, when you pick a rakhi, pause and remember Raksha Bandhan is about a promise —across generations of Indian siblings, built on something as simple and as profound as showing up for the people who show up for you.
Happy Raksha Bandhan.
